Which Witch? Harry Potter

005.

FIVE.
Happiness Is A Butterfly

Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Riley Jane and Harry in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. Harry didn't argue or complain, but Riley sure had.

She tried sneaking out at one point in the middle of the night, making Harry cover for her, only for Madam Pomfrey to catch her immediately. The older witch had to grab Riley Jane's father, and they both scolded her.

Throughout the weekend, they had a stream of visitors—Well, Harry had a stream of visitors, all intent on cheering him up. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, turned up with a get-well card she had made herself. It sang shrilly unless Harry kept it shut under his bowl of fruit, and Riley Jane found humor in teasing him for being a heartthrob.

The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood. Now that Wood wasn't actively trying to kill himself, he told Harry (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didn't blame him in the slightest.

Ron and Hermione left Harry's and Riley Jane's bedside only at night, while Riley Jane's father only visited at night. Fred and George were right—he didn't have any kind words to say about the incident that went down, but he did express his happiness that she and Harry were doing better. He gave both Riley Jane and Harry chocolate bars that they were grateful to eat.

But nothing anyone said or did seemed to make Harry feel any better, because they knew only half of what was troubling him.

Being forced to stay in the hospital wing for three whole days taught Riley Jane that Harry Potter was officially trauma bonded to her. He couldn't go five minutes sitting in silence before he confessed some new secret to her, as if they were lifelong friends that could trust each other more than anything.

For the most part, Riley Jane showed him civility in return. There were a few times though, of course, that she genuinely contemplated lunging over to his bed and smothering him dead with a pillow.

"Is having two first names even a real thing?" 

Beside Harry, Riley Jane's eyebrows rose.

Hurriedly, Harry added, "Not that it isn't a brilliant idea. Just that it's... unusual."

"Unfortunately, it's nothing normal," Riley Jane replied. "Not basic and boring like Harry."

Harry's mouth dropped open in mock outrage. "Basic and boring? Harry is a classic name, I'll have you know."

Riley Jane crossed her arms over her chest. "Classic doesn't mean interesting, Potter."

"Oh, so Riley Jane is interesting now?" Harry shot back, a teasing glint in his eye. "Sounds like the name of someone who's always trying to prove something."

She tilted her head, feigning deep thought. "And Harry Potter sounds like the name of someone who peaked at birth."

Harry barked out a laugh, earning a sharp look from Madam Pomfrey across the ward. He quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, though his eyes still sparkled with amusement. "Okay, that was brutal," he admitted after a moment, his voice quieter. "But fair."